By Asma bint Shameem
All Muslims are aware that it is prohibited in our Deen to gamble.
The prohibition is clearly stated in the Qur’an, and the Sunnah.
But, did you realize, dear brothers and sisters, that in spite of this there are various forms of gambling that we may still be involved in?
Of course, going outright to a casino is haraam, but did you know that playing the lotto, buying raffle tickets, pick 3, Bingo etc. are included under ‘gambling’ and thus, haraam?
And did you know that all those games of chance like betting and sports-wagering are regarded as gambling are also Haraam?
And that, putting in even a few dimes in a slot machine ‘just for fun’ are also haraam?
And even buying or selling insurance is also a kind of gambling and thus haraam.
Actually, any transaction or game of chance involving money in which a person may win or lose, is considered gambling and is all haraam.
Indeed, it is one of the major sins.
Allaah says:
" O who you believe! Intoxicants (e.g. alcohol, beer, drugs) and gambling and idols and (lottery by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s work, so avoid them so that you may get salvation. Satan's only desire is to create among you enmity and hatred by means of intoxicants and gambling and stop you from praying and remembering Allaah. Will you not then stay away? (Surah Ma'idah:90-91)
Despite the clear prohibition in Islaam, we make light of it and still find excuses for ourselves to continue in this abomination.
Excuse #1: But I am only selling the insurance/lottery tickets, not buying them for myself
Everything which is forbidden to do or to use, is also forbidden to sell, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said
“When Allaah forbids a thing He also forbids its price.” (Ahmad,Abu Dawood; saheeh by al-Albaani)
Excuse #2: I only sell to non-Muslims
Whatever is haraam for us is also haraam for them and whatever is Halaal for us is also Halaal for them even if they don’t follow it or believe in it because Allaah’s Laws apply to everyone, not just to Muslims.
And Islaam, anyway, abrogates and corrects any laws that came before it.
Also, this is a kind of cooperating in sin and transgression, and spreading corruption.
Allaah says:
“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression” [al-Maa’idah 5:2]
Excuse #3: I only bet/play the Lotto occasionally.
Think about it this way...
Is it okay if someone commits adultery occasionally, eats pork occasionally, steals occasionally, or lies occasionally?
Just because a person commits a haraam deed only ‘some’ of the time, does not mean that it becomes Halaal and not a sin any more.
And isn’t one exposed to the wrath of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala when he’s doing that bad deed, even if it’s done rarely?
How can one be certain that this rare action of theirs, will not develop into something that is done more frequently, until it becomes a habit?
We should fear Allaah and completely stay away from all that which Allaah has forbidden for us.
Excuse #4: But, many Muslim countries promote insurance/lottery tickets/betting
A Muslim does not decide on what is Halaal or Haraam on the basis of what happens in ‘Muslim’ countries.
Our right or wrong comes directly from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
Allaah says:
“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained?” [al-Shooraa 42:21]
Excuse #5: But the Qur’aan says that there are some benefits in gambling!
Yes it’s true there’s an ayah of the Qur’aan that says that there’s some ‘benefit’ in gambling.
Allaah says:
“They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and some benefits, for men; but the sin is greater than their benefit ...." (Al Baqarah 2:219)
But, whatever ‘benefits’ may be hoped for from gambling are worthless in front of the harm that it causes.
Think about this aayah, where benefits are mentioned in the plural, and sin is mentioned in the singular.
Allaah did not say, “In it are many sins and (some) benefits for men”, rather He said: “a great sin”.
This shows that the benefits, no matter how numerous they may be, are insignificant when compared with this great sin;
the great sin far outweighs them.
So its sin is greater than its benefits, no matter what they are." (Fataawa Islamiyyah)
Excuse #6: But, I have to feed my family
Remember, it is not ‘you’ that feeds your family.
It is Allaah that is our Provider and our Sustainer.
Allaah says:
“We provide sustenance for you and for them” (Surah al-An’aam:151)
So we can NOT use ‘providing for the family’ as an excuse for delving into something that’s so strictly prohibited in our Deen and so hated by Allaah.
Remember there will soon be a Day when we all will have to stand in front of Him and answer for all our deeds, whether we like it or not.
We should also remember that if we give up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate us with something better than that.
If we put our trust in our Rabb, He will grant us means and provide for us from sources we could never even imagine.
Allaah says:
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him.
Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
Excuse #7: But if I win, I will donate it in charity
The rule of FIQH states "that which leads to haram is itself haram." and "the ends do not justify the means".
Would we sell drugs to finance the building of a masjid?
Would we rob or steal to go for Hajj?
Of course not.
Allaah only accepts that which is pure and good.
Allaah says:
“Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqoon (pious).” (Maa’idah:27]
And, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“Allaah is Good and only accepts that which is good.” (Muslim).
Excuse #8: Didn’t the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam draw lots too?
The word lottery literally means “the drawing of lots.”
There are basically two types of lotteries.
The lotteries in which a number of tickets are sold and one or more of these tickets draw prizes (eg. Lotto).
This is forbidden in our Deen, because many people put in their money but only few receive the prize.
Others lose their money and receive nothing for it.
That’s exactly what gambling is.
The other type of lottery is the kind the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam allowed.
This is called “Qur’ah” and does not involve any payment.
Here the lots are drawn in order to choose between various groups of people or things.
It is a choice between various equal options, a kind of random selection without depriving anyone of his/her rightful due.
Excuse #9: I'm hardly a practicing Muslim anyway:
I do not pray or fast. One more sin will not harm me!
That statement cannot be more wrong.
Anyone committing a sin irrespective of how sinful he already is, IS harming himself.
Every sin and every good deed will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.
The more sins you stop committing,
the greater you win the battle for your soul.
It IS WRONG FOR ANY MUSLIM to ever feel that he is too much of a sinful person for Allaah to ever forgive him.
Don’t you know that Allaah says:
" Were the son of Adam to come to me with sins reaching up to the sky I would still forgive him"
Make that change from this moment. Ask for Allah's forgiveness and start practicing.
How to repent from being involved in Lottery and other forms of Gambling
Give up ALL FORMS of gambling straight away, be it playing the Lotto, selling the tickets, or any of the things mentioned above.
Have deep REGRET for what has happened in the past, and resolve NEVER to repeat it.
Also give in charity, because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam
said:
“….whoever says to his companion, ‘Come on, let’s gamble,’ let him give in charity.”
Conclusion
As Muslims, we must believe that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala does not forbid anything in Islaam except that which is harmful and corrupt, whether we understand this rationally or not.
All we do is say, “We hear and we obey”.
“And no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (al-Nisaa` 4:65)
And Allaah knows best
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